Exhibition of Fttngi 



317 



(Spavassis) that we have as yet seen (see p. 322), and a 

 workman delighted us by bringing, late one evening, in his 

 ■tool-bag, a fine specimen of the rarer Spavassis laminosa (see 

 p. 322). 



Some notes on the arrangement of this exhibition may be 

 useful in the future, both to ourselves and to those forming 

 similar collections. It is suggested that such a display 

 should be arranged in all provincial museums during October. 

 The study of fungi is a very important one. 



The Vivarium consists of a long shed with asphalt floor, 

 •many windows and two doors, and is quite apart from the 

 other museum buildings. Some notes upon its arrangement 

 m summer have been given (p. 56). A shed of this kind 

 serves very well for such exhibitions. No artificial heating 

 is required, and it has the merit of being cheaply erected. 



By keeping the windows and the doors open, and putting 

 pans of charcoal on the tables, the strong smell which always 

 emanates from a large collection of fungi was not very pro- 

 nounced. Of course, the fleshy species — especially the Boleti 

 -and the members of the genus Amanita — were frequently 

 changed. The remarkable fugacity of fungi, collectively con- 

 sidered, and the very short season in which they appear, add 

 a special charm to the study of this group of plants. 



All were placed on plates and saucers. Whenever possible, 

 in the case of species growing upon wood, a large piece of 

 the matrix was cut off and placed in a saucer with a little 

 water. The same plan was adopted with some of the 

 Hygvophori and other terrestrial species, a piece of the turf on 

 which they grew being carefully cut and placed in a saucer 

 half full of water. Specimens treated in this way kept fresh 

 for a considerable time and young plants attained maturity. 

 The rapidity of growth of one of the Stinkhorn Fungi — or 

 '" dead gamekeepers," as we heard them termed by one visitor 

 — was well demonstrated in this way. A plant which burst 

 the volva at midday had grown 3 inches by four o'clock. 



Serviceable printed labels for many of the common species 



